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Tributes paid to former Evening Mail editor who ‘fell in love with Cumbria’

Last updated at 13:33, Wednesday, 30 April 2014

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former newspaper editor who “fell in love with Cumbria” after editing the North-West Evening Mail for seven years.

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Tom Welsh was editor of the Evening Mail in Barrow from 1979 to 1986 and was one of the authors of journalists’ handbook Essential Law For Journalists – which he edited for 13 editions.

Mr Welsh, who lived in Broughton for the last 30 years of his life, moved to the area in the 1970s with his family.
He died of a heart attack earlier this month.

His son Edward, paid tribute to the respected journalist.

He said: “He fell in love with Cumbria and it was where he spent the last 30 years of his life.

“Broughton was his family home and the place where he fell in love with Cumbria.

“In the last few years of his life he spent most days in Broughton.

“He enjoyed walking round the village and up the old railway line, dropping in at the Manor Arms in the Square and he always enjoyed stopping and chatting with the neighbours and villagers in Broughton.”

Mr Welsh was born above a bank where his dad was bank manager in Shoeburyness, Essex.

He trained as a trainee reporter at the Westmorland Gazette, in Kendal, in the late 1950s before embarking on a career that took in the Yorkshire Evening Press, Oxford Mail, national daily the News Chronicle, the Camden Journal and The Guardian.

In 1976 he became the first director of Journalism Studies at City University, London.

After leaving that job he spent 10 years as a freelance lecturer in media law.

He was a passionate walker and was married to his wife, Mary, for almost 60 years.

Mr Welsh jnr added: “He was very proud of his wife’s career when she retired from teaching and she wrote a large number of books and articles on walking in the Lake District. They had first met when youth hostelling as teenagers and were married a few months short of 60 years.

“He loved being the editor of the Evening Mail and it was something of a dream job for him.

“He loved the town of Barrow. It’s a very strong community with a very proud identity. He always
relished the chance to tell its story on a daily basis.”

Mr Welsh is survived by his wife Mary and their four children, Cheryl, Sarah, Edward and John, three of whom became journalists, and his six grandchildren.

Have your say

I remember Mr Welsh fondly from when I worked at the High Cross, he would sometimes pop in on his walks, he was a real gentleman and always had a smile and a wave if I ever passed him! Sadly they don't seem to make them like this anymore!Thoughts are with his family.